“Who?”
“Gwen Peters.”
“Never heard of her.”
Maybe stares at her phone again, in disbelief.
“Why would
“I wouldn’t. Who is she?”
“My father’s girlfriend.”
“You’re sure about that?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“No reason. I’m just surprised to hear he has a girlfriend.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Forget I said it. Are they currently dating?”
“My father had sex with her a couple of times.”
“When?”
“What do you care?”
“Humor me. I’m trying to come up with a price.”
“I don’t know the first time. Second time was a few days ago. She’s Callie’s girlfriend.”
Maybe notes a distinct pause on the other end of the line.
Then Sam says, “Who’s Callie?”
“She works on our team.”
“Callie’s an assassin?”
“Yup.”
“Your father fucked Callie’s girlfriend?”
“Yup.”
“I bet that caused problems.”
“I suppose.”
“Tell me.”
“I don’t know much about it. And anyway, what do
“How old is Gwen?”
“Twenty.”
“Just like you.”
“So?”
“Is she pretty?”
“I suppose.”
“Are you jealous of Gwen?”
“Of
“You’re okay with it? Her having sex with your father?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Oh, wait. I see. You think I want to fuck daddy. That’s ridiculous to the point you’re about to piss me off. That whole thing about how you made me call you Daddy last year? I told you before, it’s creepy as hell. And disgusting. You’re lucky I ever let you touch me, and I probably won’t, ever again.”
“Sorry. You’re right, of course. Still, you’d like to see Gwen suffer, wouldn’t you?”
Maybe can tell Sam’s trying to get in her head. She knows how to deal with him.
“Tell you what. I’ll pick someone else.”
“
Maybe smiles.
Sam says, “I’ll pay you a hundred grand to terminate Gwen. But I want details.”
“She’s close to Callie and my father. You’ll have to provide the weapon. Something foolproof. If Callie finds out, I’m toast.”
Sam goes quiet a minute. Then says, “I’ve got something in mind. When can we meet?”
“You’ll come to Vegas?”
“I can be there tomorrow night.”
“Let me know when you get here.”
5
Sam Case.
SAM CAN’T BELIEVE his good fortune!
Having your enemy’s daughter kill your enemy’s girlfriend? That’d be a hell of a victory for anyone in the revenge business.
Of course, Sam’s not just anyone.
He’s a genius of the highest order. The type of genius who can parlay this type of news into something
Rachel answers.
“Hi honey,” Sam says. “Got a minute? I need to talk to you.”
“Is this about our divorce?”
“It’s about Kevin.”
When Creed seduced Sam’s wife, Rachel, he told her his name was Kevin. She liked it, and sticks with it.
“Kevin calls me every week,” Rachel says. “But he won’t say where he is or what he’s doing.”
“Let me visit and I’ll tell you what I know.”
“When can you get here?”
Sometimes Rachel forgets they live in an underground bunker. Separated by halls and walls, not states or countries.
“Thirty seconds,” he says.
“Make it five minutes. I need to get dressed. Wait, is it something bad? He’s not dead, is he?”
“No.”
“Good. I love him.”
“I know.”
Sam hangs up and tries Doc Howard’s phone number. Maybe says Doc Howard has been killed. If that’s the case, Sam might be off the hook. He might not have to steal any more classified information from the government. He wishes he hadn’t sent the Bin Laden photos. If someone gets into Doc’s computer, they might be able to trace the photos back to Sam.
Someone answers the phone.
“Hello, Sam.”
The voice on the other end is electronic, and sounds exactly the same as Doc Howard.
“Doc?”
“Doc Howard is dead. Of course, you’ve already heard this news.”
“Who is this?”
“Listen carefully, Sam. Are you listening?
“Yes, sir.”
“Your deal with Doc Howard, aka Darwin, is hereby cancelled.”
Sam pauses, perplexed. He tries to work it out in his mind, but there’s insufficient data.
“I don’t understand,” he says.
“You’re done.”
“Are you…you’re not planning to
